DI Reader Vishwalok says that he can no longer access GMail as someone else has taken control of his Google account and changed the GMail password. He writes: I successfully logged into my GMail account on Friday but today, when I tried logging, it says that the account password doesn't match.If you suspect that someone else has changed your GMail password, type in your GMail username (without @gmail.com) here [Forgot Password] and click Submit.
Please advise whom to contact and how to get my g-mail account back.
Google will send password resetting instructions to the secondary email address you provided during GMail signup.
If you don't have a secondary email address, try the same link again after five days. At that point, you'll be able to reset your password by answering the security question you provided when you created your account.
Though there is little you can do in situations when cannot answer the GMail security question and do not have access to the alternate email address, here's the link to contact GMail support. (choose Login/Account access from the topic list)
Resources: Google Accounts Help | Ask Google to Investigate
Find this article at: http://labnol.blogspot.com/2007/03/gmail-hacked-when-someone-else-gains.html
web: http://www.labnol.org/ email: amit@labnol.org
Reader Comments
try and think as to who would want to do this to you..in these situations these are people who bear a grudge against you...it happened to me and i figured who it was since that person sent me a mail from my same account.
there are softwares which run tens and thousands of password combos so cracking a simple password is no big deal.
do follow amit's suggestions in order to re gain control of your g mail account. and do create a complex scarambled password that is changed frequently.
and i tackled my situation by calling the head of HR at the company where the hacker was employed. a phone call from the police to them had the perpetrator on his knees in less than three hours.
do NOT give in to the fear. fight it.
all the best.
Written on 19/3/07 10:42 PM
Items 1 and 2 of little help as the person who gained control of your Google account can easily change the answer and the secondary email.
Written on 19/3/07 11:04 PM
Nice information amit sir , but i think their is no facility of secret question in gmail .
Written on 19/3/07 11:42 PM
I have a weiered problem.
Google Deleted My account telling me that I requested it. I enver Did that. :(
Same happened with my yahoo account on the same day. Both of My accounts are deleted. I lost almost 1 GB of my mails. I tried a lot contacting Gmail but without any luck. I did got Reply from Yahoo but Gmails are still quiet. :(
Written on 20/3/07 11:22 AM
My account was hacked on Nov 21 2007. This is not someone I know but coming from another country. He has access to everything, including pictures, sensitive documents, my website and my blog. He is now asking me for money to return it. Google, five days later, has done nothing to help me even though I have filled out everything. The hacker changed secondary emails and secret questions. Google does not care about their end users.
Written on 26/11/07 6:11 AM